Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation Volume One DVDReview

As a longtime Turtle fan, it's hard to criticize the recent attempt to rebootthe Ninja Turtles from Michael Bay without acknowledging the wringer this franchise was strung through during the '90s. After all, if you grew up in the “era of the Turtle,” you probably witnessed some serious junk. The Coming Out of Their Shells tour and the live-action Christmas special (which is basically unwatchable, see video below) quickly come to mind. Not to mention the third live-action film, which isn't horrible, but hardly a masterpiece, either.

Then there's Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation. Loosely following the continuity of the films, The Next Mutation is a series that's often forgotten in the pantheon of Turtlesploitation. Produced by Saban, the same folks who brought you Power Rangers (there was even a crossover episode), the series has the general look and feel of the live-action movies, albeit on a limited budget.

The series also makes quite a few changes to Turtles canon. April O'Neil and Casey Jones are nowhere in sight. We're also introduced to a new Turtle, Venus De Milo, who serves only one major role – trying to get young girls to watch the show. Michelangelo trades his nunchaku for a pair of tonfa, as well (nunchaku are pointlessly outlawed in several places).

Shredder returns, restored to his original smaller size following the Super Shredder incident of Turtles II. Unfortunately, he's not a major figure in the season. His return would have been a prominent part of the second season, had the show been picked up. Alas it was canceled before that subplot played out. None of the classic foes are featured on the series to make up for his absence. Instead, the enemies range from foes like the Dragon Lord, generic enemies like Silver (a yeti), Vam-Mi (a vampire) and villains-of-the-week.

The show itself, admittedly, is pretty bad. Some of the martial arts action is cool, but the makeup effects, costumes and general budget limitations greatly hinder nearly every aspect of the series. In order to enjoy this one, you must be able to suspend a lot of disbelief. But even then, a great many stories are fiendishly mediocre, failing to really capitalize on the rich franchise history.

Adding further insult to injury, The Next Mutation arrives right at the tail end of Turtle Mania. The animated series had run its course. The films weren't making any money anymore. And the toys were starting to highlight clearance racks. Because of this, there simply isn't much originality, or energy, left to the series.

Had The Next Mutation boasted a slightly bigger budget, a few name cast members, and a few classic friends and enemies of the original cartoon run, the series would probably be a fondly remembered piece of Turtle History. But as it stands, the show comes close to being decent, but doesn't quite make it. And for newcomers, it might just prove to be serious chore to sit through. In other words, The Next Mutation is just another scuff in the franchise's already checkered history. It's an interesting watch, but only for curiosity’s sake.

The Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation Volume One DVD finally arrives courtesy of Shout! Factory and Saban Brands. The show is presented in full frame, mixed in stereo, with 13 episodes from the 26-episode series spread across two discs. Unfortunately, there's not a single extra on either disc. Hopefully Shout! Factory will be able to get something together for Volume Two. If nothing else, let's hope to see the Power Rangers crossover episode. Fingers crossed!

The show itself looks surprisingly good. With titles like these, it seems tape masters are often used as they're all that usually survives over the years. I'm not exactly sure what masters were used to make these DVDs, but it was high quality, whatever it was. I've seen this show on VHS, YouTube and on comic convention bootleg DVDs over the years, but Shout! Factory tops all previous home releases. In fact, it's a safe bet to say this show has never looked this good – even during its original broadcast.

While the series does still retain that hazy, dated '90s look – like every one on set was smoking right before the take -- the overall image quality here is clean and crisp, with a fine haze of naturalistic film grain present on every episode. Colors are bold, with a bright palette that brings the show to life, while also bringing the show's many flaws to the surface. There's very few distortions, print blemishes or scratches. And the encode is mostly pristine, save for the usual standard definition compression. This is a truly commendable restoration, especially considering the series we're talking about here.

The show's stereo track is also quite terrific, for what it is. Sound elements are clean, balanced, and engaging when need-be. Obviously, the mix doesn't hold a candle to today's modern stereo and 5.1 tracks, but like the transfer, the audio is respectably restored to a quality that's likely never been seen, or heard in this case.

Whether you'll want to invest in Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation really depends on how hardcore a fan you are. For some, the top notch transfer and audio will be enough to win you over. But for those who are skeptical, might I suggest checking the show out on Netflix Instant (by the way, quality on the streaming version is not nearly as sharp as the DVD). The Next Mutation is certainly not the Turtles at their finest, but it's an interesting, if somewhat gonzo entry in Turtle History.